The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-10-04
STORIES OF THE WAR.
A Yankee Trick That Didn't
Pan Out.
BEN PAGETT'S GUN SWAP.


Lookout mountain, waiting for Sherman to get
ready TO ''roust" from Chattanooga, our
picket duty was pretty heavy, which was occa-
sionally relieved by an amusing incident, one
OF which propose to relate.
Our brigade Pettus's) was detailed for duty
on the mountain, that being the point where
an attack from the enemy would likely be
made.
We had a strong line of pickets stationed
about one hundred yards from the bank of a
creek, and the yankee pickets were similarly
posted on the opposite side, the two lines being
but two orthree hundred yards apart-a pretty
distance for sharp-shooting, and the boys prac-
ticed this amusement to perfection, so much
so that it was not an unfrequent mshap for
some poor fellow on one side or the other to
receive a final discharge.
Occasionally the opposing pickets would get
quite socable and meet on their respective
sides Of the small stream and have a friendly
chat, joke each other swap tobacco, coffee,
etc, until nearly "relief' time, when they
would skin back to their posts and perhaps take
crack at each other before they could get
under cover.
Ben Padgett, of the -th Alabama regiment,
was a little wirey fellow, weighing not over
one hundred and twenty pounds, but carrying
| at least a ton of pure grit in his gizzard-a
! fight a regiment of cyclones, and who had made
many blue-coat wish he had remained at
| home, if "stiff' could be considered capable
of wishing anything.
Ben conceived the idea one day while on
| duty that he would make an effort to get away
with his yankee "pard' on the opposite side of
the creek.
And he did!
He did for fact!
ha1 NJ i
ball into the ground rather than hit barn
| at a hundred yards distance With this old
| fusee he couldn't even make his antagonist
| duck his head under cover of the rock behind
| which nc was stationed, while more than once
| he came very near being rubbed out" by the
minnie balls of his opponents.
Ben was Disguised with this one-sided con-
test, and, laying his old gun down, he sang out:
Say, yank, less quit this foolishness and
Good as pork and beans!" returned the
yankee I'm afraid I mout knock yer chunk
out and make another confederate wilder If !
shoot at yer a9in."
"So'mT," tainted Ben 'I could or plugged
yon in the right eye n hour ago if I'd bin a
mind ter.'
"Whew!" whistled the yankee. "Ill bet
yon mont shoot at Lookout mountain all day
| and yer couldn't hit marry part of it, less you
! pinted yer old gun upwards and let the bullet
| fall on it,
maybe couldn't" retorted Ben; ''but my
| 'pinon is that I've got durn sight better gun
| than yourn."
"What sort is it?'
"a Spencer rifle answered Ben.
Cum down to the creek and less swap"
| proposed the yankee
LESS unload our guns fust," suggested Ben
"Thats bizness-here goes; ;" and, pointing
| their pieces in the air, they were soon rendered
| harmless for the time being.
Marching to their respective banks of the
! stream, they seated themselves and proceeded
| to oh vI,g,n
| differences.
when are you fellers goin' to let up and
stop this blasted warp" questioned Ben.
"When old jeff Davis hollers 'enuff' and
| calls off his dogs was the answer.
'Then you'll be fghtin' us when the other
country freezes cverp was Ben's indignant
ION, hang the wari Less talk about some
| thin else
! "I'm willin'."
"'What sort of gun did you say you had"
''Spencer."
Spencer nothin'! I'll bet it was at the
battle Of Bunker HILL"
makes no difference; it suits me powerful
we'll"
How'll you swap"
Even"
Ben kept his gun concealed as we'll as he
could.
"Its trade. Pitch yourn over and I'll
pitch mine.'
''Not any to hurt I won't Wen both pitch
at once" was Ben's cautious suggestion.
Acting ON this proposal, they both rose to
their feet, and at the words ''here she comes"
Bens gun went sailing to the opposite side;
bat the yankee only made fent to throw his
and held TO it, at the same time Selling Beps,
with the cool remark:
"Good mornin, Johnnie! Duz yer ole
oman know yer ont in the cool?" .il if5'
Here was the tallest kind of fix.
Ben was too utterly transfNed to speak or
move neither of which he did for fully FIVE
IL \.
down and rolled on the ground with uncon-
trolable glee. a uts
Ding the luck I" said Ben. seeming to think
that was about as appropriate as anything he
say could under the circumstances.
You'll git glory fore Monday eff you don't
git back to yer hidin' place at once' gravoly
threatened the yankee, as he deliberately pro-
ceeded to load his gun.
The cunning yank had him on string, but
Ben was too good soldier to quail or to beg
his enemy for mercy or his gun so he thought
he would try ruse--for he knew he must have
that gun before the relief officer came around
or he would inevitably be Court-martialed and
made a target of the next day
Assuming an air of utter indifference, he
banteringly remarked to his enemy
ooh, burn the gun! I'm tired totin' it any-
how, I'll bet you my gun agin yourn can
beat you Swimmin'."
"Ef you've got any gun don't know wha
you carry it, )" laughed the yankee.
Shore enough! But less strip off and go in
n washin' anyhow"
"Goodi'
And hastily throwing off their garments,
they were soon tloundering in the water
Now" said Ben, banteringly. "leSs try our
speed mp to that roek'-about twenty steps dis
tant.
Here goesi"
And both plunged forward with all their
strength toward the designated point
Pen purposely let the yankee take the lead,
while he splaShed and pulled in the rear as
though he was doing his clean best 10 overtake
him.
Suddenly he whirled and, like dart,
gained the side of the creek where the weapons
lay. SEEKING both pieces, he sprang to the
opposite side before the yankee knew what was
the matter.
Say, yank, how'd you leave tho old oman
and children2" sneered Bon, feeling that it
was his time 10 crow.
"Sold. by thunder'' acknowledged the dis
comfted blue-coat rs he ruefully crawled out
on his side of the creek.
Now" san Ben, "ef YOU don't double
quick back 10 your post I'll make widder of
you.'
After teasing him few minutes Ben pitched
his old musket AZ him and quietly walked off
with his fine Minnie rife, which he made do
him excellent service to the close Of the war,
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